Huge amount of snow in Glencoe. It is wonderful

Here is the report I've just received from Andy Meldrum at the Glencoe Mountain Ski resort. What a time for a new business to take over a ski range, huh? (We've still for a weekend break available in the cottage from next Friday, and a week available from the following Friday after that, the 12th. See the previous blog for details)

John
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It's been snowing!!! (says Andy)
If you've not already heard it's been snowing at Glencoe over the last 48hrs........
.......not just a few inches but feet at the bottom of the hill and metres at the top.
Unfortunately we don't have any pictures as everyone has been too busy digging.

The report from the hill tonight is:-

Lots and lots of fresh snow. Not only have the team spent the day digging out lifts, they intend working through the night to ensure that all runs and tow tracks are in the best shape possible for tomorrow. All runs are expected to open with the exception of the flypaper (big avalanche risk). It is possible to ski to the carpark on deep soft snow.

It looks like being an awesome weekends skiing with moderate NE winds and an 80% chance of cloud free munros according to the mountain weather information service.

I look forward to seeing you on the hill.
Andy

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RANNOCH MOOR ROAD, was closed but it should open quite quickly.

If you get stuck before crossing the Moor, then continue in the Oban direction until you get to Connel. Turn North there over the Etive bridge, and go up the Appin coast, the scenery will take your breath away, go past our cottage and then you'll get to Ballachulish, Glencoe asnd Fort William. The Rannoch road is rarely closed but it has been to-day, and they clear it quickly.

The road in front of our cottage rarely gets very deep in snow. Being right on the coast helps, we have a little micro climate there. More sunshine, a bit less rain, than in the Glen.

AVALANCHE ON THE BUCHAILLE.

It is always so tragic that in the midst of all this splendour and beauty the real rish of extreme danger still lurks. New snow on top of old does the damage. It is an objective danger and there is little you can do about it apart from being very wary in the obviously dangerous gullies and steep hillsides. Terribly sad. We've had a lot this year in Scotland.

John
The Glencoe skiing new web site, looks lovely

Skiing Glencoe and Nevis range, cottage is midway between the two
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Winter breaks in the cottage
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre
Weather month by month in the area

LOCAL GLENCOE SITES.
The Clachaig Inn
The Glencoe and Loch Leven Association with 40 B&Bs
Email 14 properties with one click
The Friends of Glencoe network site

HALF PRICE GLENCOE COTTAGE FOR OUR PAST GUESTS AND THEIR FRIENDS

Winter breaks in Glencoe have been brilliant this year so far. The new ski range is open and doing very very well. It is only a 90 minute drive from Glasgow, a bit further from Edinburgh. They send us a daily snow forecast which is very useful because we can tell our guests what it is like
Do you want to have a look at the conditions now? Click on webcam in their website.  Glencoe skiing  - their new web site, looks lovely

Last of our off-season availability.
This is only for our previous guests or their friends. They are the only ones reading this blog anyway. We have a few days spare in early March which we can offer at half price as a short break cottage holiday.
Weekend 5th Fri - 8th Mon (£245 normal price) we'll do it for you at £122.50 if you are the first one to use the magic words "half price" in your subject line email to us. If you look at the website, it will show the normal price.

The thing is that these days people are often booking very late - sometimes just the week before. This is our other availability in March, but at normal prices:
Full Week at £295 from the 12th Fri, to the 19th Fri, or this can be broken into 2 short breaks Fri to Mon or Mon to Fri each £245.

In April
one full week is still available from April 16th to 23rd Fri to Fri at £295 or this can be divided into 2 short breaks, Fri - Mon or Mon to Fri at £245.
We also we have a short break from April 26th available at £245, Mon to Fri.

Send us an email at kentalleninfo(at)yahoo.co.uk  You need to put the little (at) sign in as usual. We do this to avoid spam. Or you can email us direct from the bayview website below the "lochside cottage..." link

SUMMER BOOKINGS
We've never had such advance bookings before. Just a couple of weeks are still free in June and in August. We are really sorry if you were thinking of coming to us.

John

Here are some sites which may be useful.
Skiing Glencoe and Nevis range, cottage is midway between the two

Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Winter breaks in the cottage
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre
Weather month by month in the area
OTHER LOCAL LINKS
The Glencoe and Loch Leven Association with 40 B&Bs
Email 14 properties with one click
The Friends of Glencoe network site
The new Glencoe Skiing centre information website
Die Website der kleinen Hütte in Schottland
 
OTHER SITES
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Facts about self catering holidays
Short holiday breaks, special last minute deals, self catering Scotland
Special self catering offers in Scotland
Advice on driving in Scotland

Fabulous February weather in Glencoe. Oh yes, entirely possible. Cottage offer

Cottage breaks in February. Short break £199, one week £295, sleeps 4 all mod cons
These are the normal rates, but we will cut them in half for you for some dates.

Click here for availability Feb/Mar/Apl

Feb 1st Fri short break, and Feb 12 Mon short break at half price. Only to readers of this blog.
Email us and put "Half Price Offer" in the Subject line, then we'll know. kentalleninfo@ yahoo.co.uk

Better than January, less wet than November and December, less rain, more daylight, this is the weather in Glencoe in February. The weather in Kentallen is considerably better even than this. Wet gets dumped in the Glen but usually it must come over the mountains behind the cottage from the South-west. When the weather is bad in our bay, we go west to Ardnamuchan. Doesn't always work but more often than not it does.

When it is sunny in February, it takes your breath away. It is such a joy to be alive.

Feb 1955. Imagine a lad of 20, just out of National Service. Motor bike broken down, - there used to be a garage by the Ballachulish hotel. They order up a part from Norton in Birmingham- remember Norton? - it comes via AA road patrols within 24 hours. Wow!


Meanwhile, said young chap decides to pop up the Aonach Eagach ridge. Not the cleverest thing to do solo, maybe, but on the other hand he's climbed for four years, done the Alps, the Cuillins, North Wales, left a note of where he was going, the usual stuff. Health and Safety would have something to say to-day, so would other busybodies. ("Yes, it is all very well, John, but you put the lives of others at risk, too") Yeah right. You've got one life to live in this world. So have they. I'd be grateful but it is their decision too. ("Yes, John but what about the cost of patching you up, broken limbs, brain damage?") Ok if you want to win that much, you win, I give in.
The weather was totally stunning. Blue sky all round, slight wind. Stretch out you arms and you touch the Three Sisters, to the South East is the Blackmount, Ben Cruachan a bit to the South in the distance, Schiehallion a long way away but looking very proud to the East, to the North, the Mamores nearby, then Ben Nevis and the Aonachs, to the West the lovely area of Morven. It is an image that remained in the young man's mind for the next 54 years. You know what, these scenes are recalled from memory, and I've probably got it wrong a bit, but the image was so powerful.

(Anyway, he didn't do all of the ridge, because he was not a total idiot, up to the top and down again. Don't solo the whole ridge in Winter. You'll terrify yourself and probably die. Unless you are really good, that is. The Ice Factor people could do it)
Sunshine in Scotland in February is no less than 28 hours more than in January, virtually double. Not this year perhaps, because January has been brilliant against the average. Only an average of 14 days of rain as well in February. There is over 10% more daylight as well.
The problem is the cold particularly up high. It gets colder by 2 c degrees for every 1,000 feet you climb. The top of Bidean is 8 c degrees colder than sea level. The annual average air temperature there is –0.3 c degrees. The coldest months are January and February, once the snow falls then it stays widely on the tops until April. But the lowest temperatures in Scotland are inland and not on the West Coast.
The real trouble with height is the wind chill. As the wind rises over the hills it increases in power. In January you have 7 hours of daylight. It takes 7 hours to get to the top of Ben Nevis and back down, and you need to allow at least a spare hour in case of trouble. So start before dawn. Ugh! The temperature at the top, with a strong wind can be -20 or worse. Bidean at 1150m is slightly lower than Ben Nevis at 1344m but not all that much.
Try high level walking. It is wonderful. Otherwise crash out at the Clachaig, swap mountain stories with others, and hope it is going to clear.
John

ps Oh, and you can get a weekend break, or a midweek break in our lovely little lochside cottage about 4 miles from Glencoe. The weather is often less wild there at Kentallen.

Skiing Glencoe and Nevis range, cottage is midway between the two


Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage

Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe

Winter breaks in the cottage

Weather in the mountains of Glencoe

The Viking battle in Glencoe

The true story of the Glencoe massacre

Weather month by month in the area

Glencoe is absolutely enchanting at the moment - when the sun shines.

Glencoe is absolutely brilliant at the moment. This is the new Glencoe skiing centre, about 20 minutes from the cottage. The skiing there is stunning, let's hope it lasts through until April.

We had a lovely couple stay at the cottage last week. She bought the break for him as a present, and he went on a photography course run by Dmitri. I think there is a touch of true love involved there, don't you? How many wives would be happy to stick around alone on holiday while their husbands slope off up to their knees in mud alongside the River Etive, and then moon about in the Moor of Rannoch photographing stuff?

Thank you Jackie and Martin.

"
Hi, John and Gillian,
Just got back from a lovely relaxing weekend at your delightful cottage. We had a great time discovering how beautiful it is up there! Martin enjoyed the photography course despite the rain! We flew Bristol to Inverness and the drive down and back was so beautiful along Loch Ness. It was also great to see Ben Nevis today - even though the top was covered in cloud. We went to the Climbers Bar in Glencoe on Saturday - was a fantastic evening - especially enjoyed the Veggie Haggis!    "
 
One third off Glencoe Winter Walking and Skiing breaks in February.
We are offering one-third off the price of our short breaks in February, but only to the visitors to this blog site. So you need to email us, and put "one third off" in the subject line and then we know you qualify. Go to this page and email us from there. You can see prices and availability there.
 
http://www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk/shortbreaksavailability.html
 
John

Skiing Glencoe and Nevis range, cottage is midway between the two
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Winter breaks in the cottage
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre
Weather month by month in the area

Skiing and walking, Glencoe and Nevis Range. Half price cottage

WE WILL HALVE THE PRICE OF THE SHORT BREAKS IN OUR COTTAGE FOR THE REST OF JANUARY. SEE FINAL PARAGRAPH. YOU NEED TO EMAIL US email to kentalleninfo@yahoo.co.uk and put "Half Price Offer" in your subject. Cottage skeeps 2-4 people, fully modernised. Less than £100 for a weekend break!

Skiing in Scotland, at Glencoe and Nevis Range, Fort William - off to a brilliant start, the best start to a season ever. Glencoe is now open under new owners, Nevis Range is going full pelt.
Dry and bright, some cloud at the summit.

Nevis Range, Ben Nevis skiing forecast.
Look at this exract from the forecast to-day.
Current weather : CURRENT WEATHER Dry with good viz, cloudy above 900m. Wind/Temp @ 650m: SE 0-10mph, -1C

Weather Forecast : FORECAST. Early light snowthen dry and mainly bright day Wind/Temp@ 900m: SE 10-15mph, -7C

Nevis Range Runs : RUNS Light cover of fresh snow on a firm base. All runs groomed last night Good skiing and boarding at all levels. Some icy patches and natural hazards.
The upper runs are complete with good cover and great skiing and boarding.
Middle runs best snow cover on the west of the fences giving good sliding.
Lower slopes have improved with the recent snowfall and drifting, and are complete to the top station. Good areas for beginners and lower abilities on on Alpha and Linnhe.
Back Corrie should be treated as back country skiing and is not patrolled.
There's sledging areas available around the top station - but we're sorry that there's no sledges left in the shop.


Short cottage breaks for Glencoe skiing and walking, Nevis Range skiing and walking
Isn't this just what you want for a weekend break - three days good skiing, meals out in the evening, and a pretty cottage beside the loch to stay in.

Weekend breaks start on Fridays, and finish Mondays, we have Jan 22 and Jan 29 available.

We also have available a Monday to Friday break, January 18th.

Cheapest low season prices for weekend cottage breaks, Scotland. The following prices are halved for the breaks starting in January.
All these breaks are just £199 for four people. That is about £17 per person per night. A big reduction on what you'd pay even in a B&B. And you are free to come and go as you please.

John
Skiing Glencoe and Nevis range, cottage is midway between the two
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Winter breaks in the cottage
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre
Weather month by month in the area

Rannoch Moor A82 Glasgow to Fort William is clear for traffic, but icy

The A82

The road warnings for the West of Scotland are about icy conditions rather than blocks due to snow. Winds of 45mph are expected so it will not be nice to run out of fuel. A shovel, a blanket, wellington boots, thermos flask and a couple of chocolate biscuits are called for. Don't get benighted. If you are, then the women in your party are more likely to survive.

I rang Traffic Scotland for information about the condition of the A82 over Rannoch Moor. They are responsible for the main roads. Very nice chap said, "Where is that exactly?" As far as he knew it is ok.

So I end up with the Police station in Fort William. Chap said he could not remember the road closing in the past four years. So that looks pretty good.

But the hazards are ice, and deer, and that most dangerous of animals the white van man.

Driving and overtaking standards on this part of the A82 are putrid. Just take it easy. Our daughter had her car jumped on by a deer a couple of New Year's back.

For your information : Police station Glencoe 01855 811222

John
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Fort William and the accommodation to the South
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Several cottages in the Fort William, Glencoe and Appin areas
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Winter breaks in the cottage
Skiing Glencoe and Nevis range, 30 minutes from cottage
Touring the highlands in the Autumn
Honeymoon cottages in Scotland
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre
Cottages Scotland and Coastal cottages Scotland, how to find them
Weather month by month in the area
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Facts about self catering holidays
Short holiday breaks, special last minute deals, self catering Scotland
Special self catering offers in Scotland
Advice on driving in Scotland

Its not too late for Christmas at our pretty lochside cottage - click for link

It is fabulous here at the moment.

The top ski runs at Nevis range are open, the snow is falling, at Christmas in our pretty lochside self catering cottage you could have a lovely time.

The cottage sleeps four, is fully modernised. New ktichen new bathroom. It takes just two hours to drive there from Glasgow.

We provide all the linen and towels, you just take yourself. There are bar meals just up the road with an indoor swimming pool you can use.

Go to our website for the details.

Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

"On my Christmas wish list, Mum, is a Winter holiday in Glencoe. Is that ok?"

The photo is of the Pap of Glencoe, taken in November last year from near the old pier at Glennachulish.

Here is an odd idea for a Christmas gift. If you are Mum, you could send your son/daughter/family on a Winter break holiday in Glencoe.

If they are tired and stressed, this could be just what they need to recover. If they need a tonic they could even try skiing or snowboarding. The Glencoe ski centre is nearer, but the famous Nevis Range centre is just over half an hour away.

The costs are cheaper that you think. If it is just for one person, then a B&B or hotel would be best. If it is for couple or a family then the cheapest would be a self catering break. You get the lowest rates of the year in the Winter.

For example many B&Bs in the area are less than £25 per person per night until March. The famous Clachaig Inn is only £40 per person per night at this time.

Our cottage sleeps four. We have one short weekend break left on January 29th at only £149 from Friday to Monday, then our February rates are just £199 for a few days, and £295 for a week. Between February and March only the half term week has been booked so far.

So the cost per person per night if your family filled our cottage for a week would be just £10 per person per night, or double that for 2 people. But there are plenty of other cottages and houses, some of them for larger parties. And you can have shorter breaks if you want.

That is a really nice present to give them.

If you are the son or the daughter, then the sooner you put it on your wish list for Christmas........

Here are the links to these accommodation providers. Just tell them what you are planning and they will send the bill to the giver and the information to the holiday party.

How about that for a Christmas present they'll remember?

John

ps FRIENDS OF GLENCOE. There is a lovely new network site open to all the Friends of Glencoe, there are special interest groups there, accommodation providers there, just-passing-through-Glencoe-visitors on the site, complete with blogs. I've been trying to get the little badge on this blog site and our website which enables you to join, but I can't upload it. Google tells me there is something wrong with the html code. Urgh! But you can click on this link, have a look and join if you feel so inclined.
The Friends of Glencoe network site

The Clachaig Inn
The Glencoe and Loch Leven Association with 40 B&Bs
Email 14 properties with one click
Our pretty little lochside cottage which sleeps four people

Skiing in Glencoe saved for this Winter

I hope the new owner of the Glencoe Ski Centre does not mind my pinching his ski map to illustrate this great news. Andy Meldrum, who already owns the activity centre at the Spitall of Glenshee has bought it and plans to extend it into a major all year round attraction.


That's the best news Glencoe has had since coming 4th in the competition to name the Wonders of Scotland. (Ahead of Glencoe I seem to recall were Malt Whisky and Edinburgh Castle.)

These are the plans:
Snowmaking machines may be built
Improved facilities for snowboarding and skiing
All round the year attractions to be built in
Mountain bike trail to be added
Adventure playpark to be added
Dry ski area to be built
Archery range to be added - is this a first for a Skiing Centre?

Maintenance has already started, so there is momentum there. Apparently the Cafe is to open soon.

All that is very good news indeed.

John



ps If you are looking for holiday accommodation over Christmas and the New Year, then we have availability for the first but Hogmanay is booked, sorry. Otherwise, the first website in this list has two special Christmas and New Year pages.
I'll try and find out who still has accommodation in Glencoe available and will publish it.
Short holiday breaks, special last minute deals, self catering Scotland
Special self catering offers in Scotland
Helpful guide for holiday home owners with their web sites
The best way of finding your ideal Scottish holiday cottage on the internet
The mystery of king robert the bruce and ardchattan priory
The knights templar in argyll
The battle of Bannockburn
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre

Christmas and New Year available in our Glencoe cottage

Have the most peaceful, lovely and romantic Christmas or New Year imaginable. Our cottage at Kentallen, just around the corner from Glencoe is available at present. It sleeps four, it is warm and cosy, it is fully modernised. It has the Holly Tree hotel just a walk up the road for Bar meals or a really good Restaurant, it has the atmosphere and fun of the Clachaig Inn in Glencoe.
The area has everything you could possibly want from a year end break.
Go to our website, just click on the title.
Look at these views in this photovideo